10 Best Italian Restaurants in Moscow

The capital's chefs have become so skilled in Italian cuisine that Muscovites and guests of Moscow do not have to go to sunny Italy to enjoy the taste of its dishes and feel the indescribable aura of Italian restaurant culture. Nevertheless, we do not recommend going to the first institution that comes across - not every one of them can claim the title of the best, and in some, as we noticed in the reviews, they can completely ruin the evening.

Let's briefly understand how to distinguish a good restaurant from a mediocre one without going into it. There are several ways to do this:

• ask friends who connoisseurs of Italian cuisine, preferably those who have been to Italy themselves and know a lot about it;
• go to the website of the restaurant that you noticed earlier in Moscow in order to study its description, photos and expert reviews;
• get acquainted with our rating, for which we went through the two previous stages, and, accordingly, save a lot of time.

To be as objective as possible, we tried to take into account all the factors that are usually guided when choosing a restaurant:

• location and availability of parking;
• cleanliness and tidiness of all premises;
• promptness and friendliness of the staff;
• assortment of dishes, its correspondence to Italian cuisine;
• support for feedback from visitors;
• consonant with the concept of pricing policy.

We’ll clarify right away that neither the pretentious interior, nor the prices above average automatically ensured a high place in the list of the best. Moreover, we noticed an interesting pattern - the simpler the restaurateurs approach the interior design of the hall, the more soul they put into the restaurant cuisine. But, of course, there are always exceptions.

TOP-10 Moscow restaurants with Italian cuisine

10 Mashrooms

It’s not hard to guess that at a restaurant called Mushrooms, most of the dishes, including Honey Cake and tiramisu, are related to mushrooms. But do not think that these are banal salted mushrooms - the brand chef, together with the chef of the institution, Vladimir Mukhin and Ilya Zakharov, took all kinds of mushrooms into development, from delicious truffles and morels to plane trees, chanterelles and even ... fly agarics.Yes, yes, some types of them are quite edible, and from them they created a delicious bitter, and from other mushrooms - strega, gin and sake. The question is, where does such an incredible mushroom abundance come from? They are brought by their own field team with an expert mycologist, harvested by certified farms, and all for the sake of him - a beloved and unique client.

Of course, the restaurant has not turned into a monoconcept, and its menu includes classic pizza options, ribeye steak, and duck breast. A special aftertaste from food and drinks is created by a wood-gray interior, a green moss wall and hand-made dishes. If you wish (and in the summer it always appears - now you will understand why) from the restaurant hall you can go up to the 4th floor of the Hymeney premium shopping center to watch the beautiful view on the roof terrace. Moreover, you will most likely have to wait, albeit a little - the staff does not always cope with the load, and this is probably the only drawback that some reviews pointed out.

9 Pasta and Basta

What kind of pizza do you like? "Margarita", "Four cheeses" or "Prosciutto crudo"? Although why ask - in "Pasta and Baste" all types of pizza are very tasty: crispy flatbread made of thin dough and juicy fragrant filling will make even the not-so-hungry person pounce on them with appetite. Other gastronomic celebrities from Italy are also in full order here, so you can safely order pasta, risotto or gelatto.As regular visitors put it in one review - whatever you take, everything will be delicious and “very Italian”. Perhaps that is why it is always noisy and crowded here, just like in a popular family restaurant in Italy itself.

Separately, I would like to mention the guys who work in the institution. Their friendliness and ability to guess thoughts are intriguing, and from the detailed answers about the menu, it is clear that the waiters go through a serious school. They can easily help you sort out the choice of drinks, but we already know that the Aperol Syringe cocktail is especially good here. And there is always well-chosen music, also Italian. If it were not for the complaints of some customers in line to the toilet, this establishment would definitely have risen 2-3 positions higher in our rating.

8 Semifreddo

As the head of the Semifreddo restaurant, an authoritative Italian was invited to Moscow - Nino Graziano, who by that time had two Michelin stars for his own institution in Sicily, Il Mulinazzo. This year, his Moscow brainchild turns 15 years old. The master in love with his work brought to the capital not only the best traditions of Mediterranean cuisine and the secrets of the diversity of its tastes, but also the Sicilian passion for good food and excellent wine, which he tries to convey in his gastronomic hits - pasta with seafood and chanterelles, Black beef tartare Angus and tiramisu.

The restaurant is located in a pleasant location and offers its guests free parking, which is very much appreciated in the center of the Red Rose business district. Each of them is guaranteed friendly service - in any case, in more than 200 reviews, we did not see a single complaint about the service. In addition to the location, people like the interior - it is elegant, discreet and solid, exactly what you need for an institution where it is customary to leave 20 thousand rubles. for two. But, despite the space price tag, there are always enough visitors here, and in order to sit at your favorite table, it is better to book it in advance.

7 Acenti

Many good people have invested their souls in this restaurant, and one of them is Igor Shurupov, a well-known chef and restaurateur in Moscow and abroad. A little more, and his offspring under the meaningful name Accenti (“Accent” - Italian) will turn 20 years old, and this is a considerable age for a Moscow institution. Probably, in no other place do you want to look just like that, without any reason. And the reasons for that are innumerable. Firstly, this is an unexpected and not quite Italian cuisine. Of course, you can always order crab ravioli here, but they will cook them from wonton rice dough, which makes their filling sound much brighter. However, visitors with more conservative tastes will certainly be offered buffalo mozzarella, burata, and carpaccio.

There are three halls in the restaurant - they are not large, but the cozy light interior and the harmonious arrangement of tables can comfortably accommodate more than 100 visitors.There is a separate room for 20 people with an audio system and a dance floor, where you are invited to celebrate a child's or adult's birthday. The abundance of greenery and soft sofas bring home comfort, while paintings and marble busts give a sense of the originality of the event. But it is best to spend time on a charming summer playground - experienced visitors say so in the reviews.

6 Cantinetta Antinori

It is more than possible to enjoy a real Italian dinner in Moscow - all you need to do is to drive into a quiet, inconspicuous lane near the Arbat and visit a restaurant belonging to the Cantinetta Antinori global network. Exactly the same restaurant is located in Vienna, London and Monte Carlo, so you can be sure that the service standards here are the highest. This establishment was created for true gourmets who love Italian dishes, solemnly served in a pleasant environment with muffled music. Portions are small - just enough to eat them deliberately slowly, enjoying and savoring, and have time to move on to the next delicacy, whether it's an excellent duet of vitello tonnato or fried halibut with porcini mushrooms.

Because of the above-average price tag (the average check is 5,000 rubles), not everyone comes here and infrequently - just to get enough, they choose other, more democratic restaurants. But for celebrating a special day at a high level, this place is perfect.Unobtrusive European luxury, a delicate approach to each visitor, a competent selection of wine, meat, cheese varieties and, of course, the wonderful skill of the chef and his team - these are the main reasons why Cantinetta remains the favorite of most ratings.

5 Osteria Mario

The Mediterranean, and more specifically, the Italian food system has long been recognized as one of the healthiest, but the culinary masters of the restaurant-osteria "Mario" did not stop and created a special menu "Biolight". It consists of dishes prepared in such a way as to preserve the maximum benefit. No grilling and deep-frying, a minimum of seasonings - relying only on the purity of taste, freshness and a harmonious combination of products. Vegans and vegetarians, adherents of a healthy lifestyle and people who control their own weight like to drop in here. However, as befits a home restaurant, hearty Italian food is also plentiful here, so everyone can pamper their taste buds.

Of the advantages that we have learned from the reviews, we must mention the spacious bright room, the interesting design of the dishes, the constant availability of good wine and the children's menu with the Azbuka soup, famous throughout the Falcon. And what a pasta! It is prepared in the hall in a real wood-fired oven and served with seafood, prosciutto, parmesan, truffle sauce - the things without which Italian cuisine is unthinkable. By the way, the portions here are generous, and restaurant lunches are considered the best in the Airport-Sokol area.

4 Buono

For fans of premium-class establishments, we can recommend the Buono Italian restaurant with the Fine Dining concept. It differs from the restaurant "brothers" by its fashionable interior in a classic style and unique atmosphere. It is difficult to say whether it is created by the beautiful Moscow panorama, which opens on 4 verandas from all over the world, Italian porcelain dishes in cabinets made of elite wood, or the movements of the staff honed to perfection, but you feel like an aristocrat here.

We read a lot of laudatory reviews about the local cuisine - food of standard quality, tasty, natural, cooked according to all the canons of Italian traditions. The legendary chef from Tuscany Christian Lorenzini conjures over her, who at one time prepared food for such celebrities as Naomi Campbell, Eros Ramazzotti, Mick Jagger, Sting and Paris Hilton. Of course, the average check (4000 rubles) corresponds to the status of the institution, but you must admit that it is worth coming here at least once for the sake of impeccable cuisine and a special attitude. Who knows, maybe this is where a brilliant business idea will visit you?

3 Practice by Darvin

More recently, in the building of the legendary theater "Lenkom", in the very center of Moscow, a new institution was opened under the name "Practice", known to the public. The first-born in this network - Praktika on B. Gruzinskaya - has earned popularity among visitors for its pleasant atmosphere, unobtrusive service and more than friendly prices. It is not surprising that gourmets from all over the city immediately rushed to the new restaurant, or rather, a wine bar with an Italian accent.Plus, its area has become larger, and the institution has become a suitable option for small corporate events. Therefore, in order to have a pleasant evening here, and at the same time inadvertently meet a famous person from a bohemian environment, you need to book a table in advance.

The lucky ones, who have already managed to get their first impressions, in their own words, really liked the interesting design of the hall in the loft style, the impeccable presentation of the dishes and their compliance with the recipe. You really won’t see all the dishes of Italian cuisine here, and in general the choice on the menu is small, but pizza (including vegetarian), saffron risotto and, of course, prosecco (a glass costs only 150 rubles, by the way) are impeccable here. However, for those who are not connoisseurs of sparkling wines, there is always an option to taste - the wine list is very rich. The game of wine in a glass, a light snack and background music - what could be better?!

2 Andiamo

One of the indirect evidence that this restaurant is considered one of the best is its workload. There is always a slight fuss here, and the waiters are knocked down to serve everyone who wants to have a tasty meal in time. How they succeed is unknown, but people leave the institution a little in love with it. The pride of this restaurant is its cuisine, where, as managers assure and visitors confirm, everything is fresh, literally “from under the knife”. The menu changes weekly and includes about 50 items, including Italian saltimbocca, oriental soup with funchose, and Hungarian goulash.Such an assortment, of course, excludes the institution from the number of national restaurants, but it allows you to please the tastes of a large motley company.

You can also come here with children - they have a children's menu, special chairs, an entertainment room, and on Sunday master classes and an animation program are organized for them. They also say that here are the most fragrant hookah mixes and the most delicious desserts - meringue roll and lemon tart, which can be eaten on a cozy summer veranda, looking at a gorgeous sunset. I must say that the restaurant is sometimes met with criticism, but the reaction of the administration is more than commendable - it deals with every case to the smallest detail and tries to earn the favor of even the most demanding visitors.

1 Il Patio

After walking around the center of Moscow, it's time to have a bite to eat in a cozy Italian restaurant belonging to one of the largest chains in Russia. It used to be called "Patio Pizza", but after changing the concept, its pizzerias turned into full-fledged Italian trattorias with a varied menu, thought out by the famous chef Renzo De Sario. Here, for a relatively small amount (the average bill is about 900 rubles), you can enjoy the classic "Pepperoni" or "Margarita" or try the signature Il Patio pasta with seafood. And if you really liked some dish (judging by the reviews, this is a common occurrence), you can get its recipe on the company's website or order it home with delivery.

Another advantage of this restaurant is inexpensive and high-quality drinks: Italian wines, invigorating lemonades and cool aperitifs.In general, you should definitely come here for those who work nearby for breakfast or a business lunch, and for a couple of lovers on a romantic date. However, we warn you: if you liked one restaurant of the chain, it is not a fact that exactly the same pleasant impressions will remain after visiting another. Its extensive growth has led to inconsistent standards and some deterioration in quality. However, judging by the well-trained staff, the institution employs professionals who quickly eliminate the mistakes made.

Popular vote - which Italian restaurant in Moscow is the best
Vote!

Il Patio

Andiamo

Practice by Darvin

Buono

Osteria Mario

Cantinetta Antinori

Acenti

Semifreddo

Pasta and Basta

Mashrooms

Total voted: 6

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